Jeremiah 48; Jeremiah 49; Hebrews 7

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Jeremiah 48

1 This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says about Moab: How horrible it will be for Nebo; it will be destroyed. Kiriathaim will be put to shame; it will be captured. Its stronghold will be put to shame and torn down.

2 People will no longer praise Moab. The people in Heshbon will plan Moab's destruction. "Let's destroy that nation!" You will be silenced, city of Madmen. Death will come after you.

3 People will cry out from Horonaim, "Looting and great destruction!"

4 Moab will be broken. Its little ones will cry out.

5 People go up the pass of Luhith, crying bitterly as they go. On the road down to Horonaim they have heard the distressful cry of destruction.

6 "Run away! Run for your lives! Run like a wild donkey in the desert."

7 Since you trust the things you do and your treasures, you will be captured. Chemosh will go into captivity with all its priests and officials.

8 The destroyer will come to every city, and no city will escape. The valley will be destroyed, and the plain will be laid waste as the LORD has threatened.

9 Put salt on Moab. It will be destroyed. Its cities will become deserted ruins.

10 Cursed are those who neglect doing the LORD's work. Cursed are those who keep their swords from killing.

11 "Moab has lived securely ever since it was young. Its people are like wine left to settle in a jar. They aren't poured from one jar to another. They haven't gone into captivity. That is why its flavor has remained the same, and its aroma hasn't changed.

12 That is why the days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will send people to pour Moab out of its jars and to smash its pitchers.

13 Then Moab will be ashamed of Chemosh as the nation of Israel was ashamed when it trusted Bethel.

14 "How can you say, 'We are soldiers and warriors'?

15 The enemy will attack Moab and destroy its cities. Its finest young men will be slaughtered," declares the king, whose name is the LORD of Armies.

16 "Moab's destruction is coming near; disaster is coming quickly.

17 Mourn over it, all of its neighbors and everyone who knows its fame. Say, 'Look at the strong staff, the beautiful rod, that is broken!'

18 "People of Dibon, come down from your place of honor and sit on the dry ground. The destroyers of Moab will attack you. They will destroy your fortresses.

19 Stand by the road in Aroer, and watch. Ask those who are fleeing and those who are escaping what is happening.

20 They will answer, 'Moab is disgraced; it is defeated. Shout loudly, and cry. Tell the news in Arnon that Moab is destroyed.'

21 "Judgment has come to all the cities on the plain: to Holon, Jahzah, Mephaath,

22 Dibon, Nebo, Beth Diblathaim,

23 Kiriathaim, Beth Gamul, Beth Meon,

24 Kerioth, Bozrah, and on all the cities of Moab, far and near.

25 "Moab's horn is cut off, and its arm is broken," declares the LORD.

26 "Get the people of Moab drunk; they have spoken against the LORD. They will wallow in their own vomit, and people will laugh at them.

27 People of Moab, didn't you laugh at the people of Israel? Were they caught among thieves? Whenever you talk about them you shake your heads in contempt.

28 People of Moab, abandon your cities. Live among the cliffs. Be like doves that make their nests at the entrance of a cave.

29 "We have heard about the arrogance of Moab's people. They are very arrogant. They are very arrogant, conceited, and boastful.

30 I know how arrogant they are," declares the LORD, "but it isn't right. They brag and don't do what they say.

31 That is why I will weep for Moab and cry for all of Moab. I will moan for the people of Kir Hareseth.

32 I will cry for you as Jazer cries. I will cry for you, grapevines of Sibmah. Your branches [once] spread as far as the sea, and they reached as far as the sea of Jazer. The destroyer will destroy your ripened fruits and your grapes.

33 Joy and gladness have disappeared from the orchards and fields of Moab. I will stop the wine flowing from the winepresses. No one will stomp on grapes with shouts of joy. There will be shouts, but not shouts of joy.

34 "The cry will be heard from Heshbon to Elealeh and Jahaz. It will be heard from Zoar to Horonaim and Eglath Shelishiyah. Even the streams of Nimrim will dry up.

35 I will stop those in Moab who come to worship sites, those who bring offerings to their gods," declares the LORD.

36 "That is why I moan for Moab like a flute. I sound like a flute for the people of Kir Hareseth. The wealth they gained has disappeared.

37 "Every head is shaved, and every beard is cut off. There are gashes on every hand and sackcloth on every waist.

38 People in Moab will mourn on every rooftop and in every street. There will be mourning everywhere, because I will break Moab like a jar that no one wants," declares the LORD.

39 "They will cry, 'Look how Moab is defeated! Moab turns away in shame!' Moab has become something ridiculed and something held in contempt by everyone around it.

40 "This is what the LORD says: The enemy will swoop down like eagles and spread their wings over Moab.

41 The cities will be taken, and the fortified places will be captured. On that day Moab's soldiers will be like women in childbirth.

42 Moab will be destroyed as a nation, because it spoke against the LORD.

43 Disasters, pits, and traps are in store for those who live in Moab," declares the LORD.

44 "Whoever flees from a disaster will fall into a pit. Whoever climbs out of the pit will be caught in a trap. I will bring a year of punishment to Moab," declares the LORD.

45 "Those who flee will stand exhausted in the shadow of Heshbon. A fire will come out of Heshbon and a flame from Sihon. It will burn the foreheads of the people of Moab and the skulls of those noisy people.

46 How horrible it will be for you, Moab. You people of Chemosh will die. Your sons will be taken away into exile, and your daughters will be taken away into captivity.

47 But I will restore Moab in the last days," declares the LORD. The judgment against Moab ends here.

Jeremiah 49

1 This is what the LORD says about the people of Ammon: Doesn't Israel have any children? Doesn't it have any heirs? Why, then, has the god Milcom taken over the inheritance of Gad's descendants? Why do Milcom's people live in Gad's cities?

2 That is why the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will sound the battle cry against Rabbah, where the people of Ammon live. It will become a pile of rubble. Its villages will be burned down. Then Israel will take possession of its inheritance, says the LORD.

3 Cry loudly, Heshbon, because Ai is destroyed. Cry, people of Rabbah, put on your sackcloth, and mourn. Run back and forth between the walls. Milcom will be taken away into captivity with its priests and officials.

4 Why do you brag about your valleys, your fertile valleys, you unfaithful people? You trust your treasures. You think, "Who would attack me?"

5 I am going to bring terror on you from all around, declares the Almighty LORD of Armies. Everyone will be scattered. No one will gather the refugees.

6 But afterward, I will return the captives of Ammon, declares the LORD.

7 This is what the LORD of Armies says about Edom: Is there no longer any wisdom in Teman? Has wisdom disappeared from your people? Has their wisdom vanished?

8 Turn and run. Hide in deep caves, inhabitants of Dedan. When I punish them, I will bring disaster on the descendants of Esau.

9 If people come to pick your grapes, won't they leave a few grapes behind? If thieves come during the night, won't they steal only until they've had enough?

10 Yet, I will strip the descendants of Esau. I will find their hiding places. They won't be able to hide. Their children and relatives will be destroyed. None of their neighbors will say,

11 "Abandon your orphans, and I will keep them alive. Your widows can trust me."

12 This is what the LORD says: If those who don't deserve to drink from the cup still drink from it, why should you go unpunished? You won't go unpunished. You must drink from it.

13 I take an oath on myself, declares the LORD, that Bozrah will become a pile of rubble. It will become something horrifying, ridiculed, ruined, and cursed. All its cities will lie in ruins permanently.

14 I heard a message from the LORD. A messenger was sent among the nations to say, "Assemble, and attack Edom. Get ready for battle."

15 "Edom, I will make you the smallest of nations and despised among humanity.

16 You have frightened other people. Your arrogance has deceived you. You live on rocky cliffs and occupy the highest places in the hills. Even though you build your nest as high as an eagle, I will bring you down from there," declares the LORD.

17 "Then Edom will become something horrible. Everyone who passes by it will be horrified and hiss at all its wounds.

18 Edom will be like Sodom, Gomorrah, and their neighboring cities when they were destroyed. No one will live there. No human will stay there," says the LORD.

19 "I will suddenly chase them from their places like a lion coming out of the jungle along the Jordan River into pastureland. I will appoint over Edom whomever I choose. Who is like me? Who can challenge me? Is there any leader who can stand up to me?"

20 Listen to the plans that the LORD is making against Edom and the things he intends to do to those who live in Teman. He will surely drag away the little ones of the flock. He will surely destroy the pasture because of the people who live in Teman.

21 The earth will quake at the sound of their downfall. The sound of their crying will be heard at the Red Sea.

22 The enemy will swoop down like eagles and spread their wings over Bozrah. On that day Edom's soldiers will be like women in childbirth.

23 This is a message about Damascus. "Hamath and Arpad are worried because they heard the bad news. They melt in fear. They are troubled like a sea that can't be calmed.

24 The people of Damascus are weak. They turn to flee, but panic grips them. Anguish and pain grip them like a woman in labor.

25 Why isn't that famous, happy city abandoned?

26 That is why its young men will die in the streets, and its soldiers will be silenced that day," declares the LORD of Armies.

27 "I will set fire to the walls of Damascus and burn down Benhadad's palaces."

28 This is about the tribe of Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor that King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon defeated. This is what the LORD says: Get ready, attack Kedar, and loot the people from the east.

29 Their tents and their flocks will be taken. Their tent curtains, utensils, and camels will be carried away. People will shout to them, "Terror is all around!"

30 Run far away! Find a place to hide, inhabitants of Hazor, declares the LORD. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon has made plans against you and intends to attack you.

31 Get ready! Attack the nation living peacefully and securely, declares the LORD. It is a nation with no gates or bars. Its people live alone.

32 Their camels will be taken as prizes. Their large herds will be taken as loot. I will scatter to the winds those who shave the hair on their foreheads. I will bring disaster on them from every side, declares the LORD.

33 Hazor will be a place where only jackals live. It will become a permanent wasteland. No one will live there. No human will stay there.

34 Early in the rule of King Zedekiah of Judah, the LORD spoke his word to the prophet Jeremiah about Elam.

35 This is what the LORD of Armies says: I'm going to break the bows of Elam's archers, the most important weapon of their strength.

36 I'll bring the four winds from the four corners of heaven against Elam and scatter its people in every direction. There won't be a nation where Elam's refugees won't go.

37 I'll defeat the people of Elam in the presence of their enemies, in the presence of those who want to kill them. I'll bring disaster with my burning anger, declares the LORD. I'll send armies after them until I put an end to them.

38 I'll set my throne in Elam and destroy its king and officials, declares the LORD.

39 But afterward, I'll return the captives of Elam, declares the LORD.

Hebrews 7

1 Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of the Most High God. He met Abraham and blessed him when Abraham was returning from defeating the kings.

2 Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything he had captured. In the first place, Melchizedek's name means king of righteousness. He is also called king of Salem (which means king of peace).

3 No one knows anything about Melchizedek's father, mother, or ancestors. No one knows when he was born or when he died. Like the Son of God, Melchizedek continues to be a priest forever.

4 You can see how important Melchizedek was. Abraham gave him a tenth of what he had captured, even though Abraham was the father of the chosen people.

5 Moses' Teachings say that members of the tribe of Levi who become priests must receive a tenth of everything from the people. The priests collect it from their own people, Abraham's descendants.

6 Although Melchizedek was not from the tribe of Levi, he received a tenth of everything from Abraham. Then Melchizedek blessed Abraham, who had God's promises.

7 No one can deny that the more important person blesses the less important person.

8 Priests receive a tenth of everything, but they die. Melchizedek received a tenth of everything, but we are told that he lives.

9 We could even say that when Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything, Levi was giving a tenth of everything. Levi gave, although later his descendants would receive a tenth of everything.

10 Even though Levi had not yet been born, he was in the body of Abraham when Melchizedek met him.

11 The people established the Levitical priesthood based on instructions they received. If the work of the Levitical priests had been perfect, we wouldn't need to speak about another kind of priest. However, we speak about another kind of priest, a priest like Melchizedek, not a Levitical priest like Aaron.

12 When a different kind of priesthood is established, the regulations for those priests are different.

13 The priest whom we are talking about was a member of a different tribe. No one from that tribe ever served as a priest at the altar.

14 Everyone knows that our Lord came from the tribe of Judah. Moses never said anything about priests coming from that tribe.

15 The regulations were different. This became clear when a different priest who is like Melchizedek appeared.

16 That person is a priest, not because he met human requirements, but because he has power that comes from a life that cannot be destroyed.

17 The Scriptures say the following about him: "You are a priest forever, in the way Melchizedek was a priest."

18 The former requirements are rejected because they are weak and useless.

19 Moses' Teachings couldn't accomplish everything that God required. But we have something else that gives us greater confidence and allows us to approach God.

20 None of this happened without an oath. The men from the tribe of Levi may have become priests without an oath,

21 but Jesus became a priest when God took an oath. God said about him, "The Lord has taken an oath and will not change his mind. You are a priest forever."

22 In this way Jesus has become the guarantee of a better promise.

23 There was a long succession of priests because when a priest died he could no longer serve.

24 But Jesus lives forever, so he serves as a priest forever.

25 That is why he is always able to save those who come to God through him. He can do this because he always lives and intercedes for them.

26 We need a chief priest who is holy, innocent, pure, set apart from sinners, and who has the highest position in heaven.

27 We need a priest who doesn't have to bring daily sacrifices as those chief priests did. First they brought sacrifices for their own sins, and then they brought sacrifices for the sins of the people. Jesus brought the sacrifice for the sins of the people once and for all when he sacrificed himself.

28 Moses' Teachings designated mortals as chief priests even though they had weaknesses. But God's promise, which came after Moses' Teachings, designated the Son who forever accomplished everything that God required.

Jeremiah 48; Jeremiah 49; Hebrews 7

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Jeremiah 48

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